Wheel flange wear retarder



1955 E. A. CAMPNEY WHEEL FLANGE WEAR RETARDER Filed April 15, 1953 I m a INVENTOR. 5014/19/90 6. UMP/vs )4 BY 2,721,589 WHEEL FLANGE Riemann: EdWiii-d A. :campny; haitimai'e, Md. Application April 13, .1953, Serial No. 348,310 3 Claims. as. 184:4

The present invention relates to a deviii for applying a solid anti-friction composition to'the flanges of the wheels of railroad vehicles for retarding the wearther'eof.

One object of the invention is to provide a 'device of simple and rugged construction, and at the same time economical in its production together with its" several parts which may be easily replaced when they have become worn or otherwise unserviceable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a design that may be equally as well adapted to use on any of the vehicle wheels, including both cars and locomotives.

A further object of the invention is to eliminate the use on vehicle wheel flange, of oil, or other types of tacky lubrications, which have a tendency to spread to the tread of the wheel and cause slippage.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a self-contained unit carrying sufficient solid anti-friction compound to last over a considerable period, and which will be free from the normal tackiness of oils and greases.

While several general and specific objects of the invention have been set forth, those skilled in the art will observe other objects, uses and advantages as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed which consists in its novel structure, combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following detailed description, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view in elevation of the device illustrating its relative location to a wheel and manner of attachment to a railway vehicle truck.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 looking toward the left, as indicated by the arrow.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical view of the device.

Figure 4 is a side view of the same.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the device is illustrated with a conventional flanged wheel 6 having the usual face 6 and flange 7, which are mounted into a truck frame 8. In order to locate the device in position adjacent the wheel, there is a bracket 9 usually welded to the truck frame as shown in 9' in Figure l and extending outwardly and in such location as to receive the device.

The device per se consists mainly in two castings, a base member 10 and an elongated stem member 12 having an enlarged offset lower end. The casting 10 is fastened to the bracket 9 by bolts 13 and 14, which pass through openings 15 and 16 adjacent its outer lateral edges. Adjacent the center of the casing 10 there is a raised portion It); and through this raised portion is a hollow opening of rectangular cross-section. The opening is tapered outwardly from a point adjacent its center as indicated by the dotted lines 18 and 19.

The member 12 is of such size and so formed as to be slidably receivable within the rectangular hollow opening in the member 10. The lower end 12 is enlarged to form a shoe and slightly offset from the main stem portion 12. Extending upwardly through the portion 12 and stem portion 12 is an opening 20, which extends throughout the entire length of the member 12; In order to prevent the member 12 from rotating, or turning, it is made of square or rectangular cross sectional form between the points 12" and 12" and of such size asto be easily slidable within the opening in plate '10 between the tapered sides 18 and 19. The member 12 is pivotable laterally between the points 18 and 19 of theside walls 18 and 19, in order to give theend shoe 12' a. lateral movement with the side motion of the wheel. The opening 20 of the member 12 is of such size, that its diameter is substantially equal to the distance between the foot and the top center of the flange. Extending along at least one side of the stem is a slot 21 in order to observe the interior of the opening 20. v v p I g The member 12 is slidably retained within the member 10 by the enlarged portion 12' and a cap screw 23.

In order to close the upper end of the opening 20 there is provided a threaded plug 24 whichis adapted to engage similar threads in the upper end of the opening.

The opening 20 is of uniform size throughout its length and is adapted to receive a solid anti-friction composition in the forin of a solid rod 25. The rod or stick is of such length as to extend from a point slightly below the inner surface of the plug 24 to the outer end of portion 12 of the member 12.

The outer end of the portion 12 is formed with a semicylindrical recess, one half of which lies within the path of the opening 20.

The device is preferably mounted at an angle of approximately 45 with a vertical plane passing through the axis of the axle of the wheel and the opening 20 is in a vertical plane with the outer surface of the wheel flange 7, as shown in Figure 1.

The solid anti-friction composition found to be most suitable to use in this device is composed principally of molybdenum disulfide, chemically known as M082, however, other solid stick wear retarding compositions may be used.

This MoSz material has a strong aflinity for metal surfaces and a long range of heat stability, and can be made in such hardness as to control its wear. It is a water and sand repellant, and therefore will not pickup the sand generally used for increasing the traction of the wheels of the locomotive.

By the use of this material, the abrasive action between the wheel and rail caused by the mixture of the oil and sand will be eliminated and the life of the wheel will be greatly prolonged.

.The device is positioned and fastened as illustrated in and the rod or stick 25 is placed. The lower end 25 the contour of the inner side form covers the flange area, tact with the rails.

The device is of rugged construction and is not readily removed, or tapered with by unauthorized persons.

In operation, the shoe 12 of the member 12 extends over the flange, as best shown in Figure 3, and slides thereon and in contact with the flange as the wheel rotates. The shoe is held in contact with the flange by its own weight as it rests in the member 10. As the member 12 rests in the member 1'0 at a 45 angle the full weight of the member 12 is not exerted against the flange, there being just enough weight to keep the shoe in contact with the flange. The rod 25 slides loosely down the opening 20 and contacts the inner surface of the flange independently of the member 12, there being also just enough weight in the rod to keep it in contact with the flange.

The wheels of railway vehicles are mounted into the truck frame with a certain limited side movement for normal operation, therefore, the tapered sidewalls 18 and 19 are of such a degree as to allow the shoe 12 to move laterally the full distance with the wheel lateral.

inserted, and the plug is reof the rod 25 is shaped to fit of the flange. This particular which normally comes in con- The rod, or stick 25 of the solid anti-friction compound is of sufiicient hardness to last an average flanged wheel for a period equivalent to that required by law for general inspection at quarterly or semi-annular periods, depending on mileage of unit in service. The amount of wear, however, can always be checked through the slot 21 and corrective measures taken when necessary.

While the invention has been illustrated in a specific form, other forms may be resorted to without departing from the general principle employed, therefore the scope of the invention is best defined in the appended claims:

I claim:

1. A device for supporting a rod of solid anti-frictional compound in position to contact the outer surface of a flange of a wheel of a railway vehicle comprising a base having a channel opening extending therethrough tapered laterally and outwardly from its center toward its outer edges, a bar slidably receivable within said base channel opening having a single uniformly sized bore extending throughout its entire length, a slot extending along one side of said bar, whereby said bore can be observed, an off-set formed on the lower end of the bar, the combined areas of the lower end of the bar and oil-set having a semi-cylindrical recess adapted to engage the wheel flange for positioning the opening through the bar to the outer face of the flange, the bar being held in a plane making an angle of approximately forty-five degrees to a vertical plane passing through the axis of the wheel, the diameter of the rod receiving opening in the bar extending into the semi-cylindrical recess in the lower end of the bar and off-set portion being approximately one-half of the diameter of the said recess.

2. A device as set forth in'claim 1, including a rod of solid molybdenum disulfide occupying the bore of said bar.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the diameter of the bore is substantially equal to the distance between the foot and the top center of the flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,043,141 Plymale Nov. 5, 1912 1,222,341 Wholey Apr. 10, 1917 2,203,112 Swanson June 4, 1940 2,580,687 McMillan Jan. 1, 1952 2,614,661 Fisher Oct. 21, 1952 

